The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report 2012 © Plant Health Australia 2013 Disclaimer: This publication is published by Plant Health Australia for information purposes only. Information in the document is drawn from a variety of sources outside This work is copyright. Apart from any use as Plant Health Australia. Although reasonable care was taken in its preparation, Plant Health permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part Australia does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, completeness or currency of the may be reproduced by any process without prior information, or its usefulness in achieving any purpose. permission from Plant Health Australia. Given that there are continuous changes in trade patterns, pest distributions, control Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction measures and agricultural practices, this report can only provide a snapshot in time. and rights should be addressed to: Therefore, all information contained in this report has been collected for the 12 month period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012, and should be validated and Communications Manager confirmed with the relevant organisations/authorities before being used. A list of Plant Health Australia contact details (including websites) is provided in the Appendices. 1/1 Phipps Close DEAKIN ACT 2600 To the fullest extent permitted by law, Plant Health Australia will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred in or arising by reason of any person relying on the ISSN 1838-8116 information in this publication. Readers should make and rely on their own assessment An electronic version of this report is available for and enquiries to verify the accuracy of the information provided. download from the Plant Health Australia website. Print copies can be ordered by contacting Plant Health Australia. In referencing this document, the preferred citation is: National Plant Biosecurity Status Report (2012). Plant Health Australia, Canberra, ACT. Contents OVERVIEW 7 The importance of plant biosecurity 8 CHAPTER 1 ORGANISATION OF PLANT BIOSECURITY SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA 11 1.1 Plant health policy and legislation 12 Reforming Australia’s biosecurity system 12 Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity 13 National Plant Biosecurity Strategy 14 Biosecurity legislation 14 1.2 National committees 16 Primary industries committees 16 Plant Health Committee 16 1.3 Australian Government plant health services 18 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 18 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 20 Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 20 The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service 20 Other government organisations 20 1.4 State and territory plant biosecurity services 21 1.5 Industry and private sector plant biosecurity services 25 Industry representative bodies 25 Growers and landholders 25 Private consultants and reseller agronomists 25 Professional associations 25 1.6 Australia’s plant production industries 26 Crop production summary 26 1.7 Plant Health Australia 76 Plant Health Australia and Australia’s plant biosecurity system 76 CHAPTER 2 THREATS TO AUSTRALIA’s planT PRODUCTION 79 2.1 Australia’s High Priority Pests 81 2.2 Australia’s regionalised pests 90 2.3 Responses to Emergency Plant Pests 93 2.4 Managing weed threats in Australia 97 CHAPTER 3 MAINTAINING AUSTRALIA’s planT BIOSECURITY STATUS 101 3.1 International trade 103 International agreements 104 Imports 106 Exports 106 Image courtesy of Glynn Maynard, DAFF 3.2 Offshore activities 112 Risk assessments 112 Verifications, inspections and audits 112 International plant health 113 Asia-Pacific egionr capacity building 113 Intelligence 113 3.3 At the border activities 114 Screening and inspection 114 Post-entry plant quarantine 115 Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy 115 Education and awareness 116 3.4 Onshore activities 117 Domestic Quarantine 118 Industry biosecurity planning 118 Pre-emptive breeding 120 Surveillance 120 Diagnostics 128 Forest Health 138 On-farm biosecurity 139 Communication and awareness 140 Information technology tools and networks supporting the plant biosecurity system 140 CHAPTER 4 MANAGING PLANT BIOSECURITY EMERGENCIES 145 4.1 The Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed 146 National Management Group 147 Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests 147 Categorisation Group 147 4.2 PLANTPLAN 150 Contingency planning 150 Training 154 Biosecurity Surveillance, Incident, Response and Tracing Program 155 CHAPTER 5 RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 157 5.1 Research, development and extension in association with the Australian Government 158 Australian government statutory authorities and agencies involved in research and development 159 Cooperative Research Centres 160 Research and Development Corporations 163 5.2 State and territory governments research and development 166 5.3 Universities and private research institutions 166 5.4 Overview of plant biosecurity related research, development and extension in 2012 168 APPENDICES 193 Appendix 1: Organisational and initiative contact details 194 Appendix 2: Glossary 198 Appendix 3: Acronyms and abbreviations 200 INDEX 203 Image courtesy of Summerfruit Australia Tables and figures Case Studies TABLES Chapter 1 Delivering the biosecurity message to cherry growers 37 Table 1. Plant biosecurity related legislation 15 Biosecurity in the cotton industry – The “Come clean, Tables 2-30. Industry specific High Priority Pest lists 28-75 Go clean” campaign 43 Table 31. Plant Health Australia’s Members 77 Mapping stakeholders and biosecurity risks in the fodder Table 32. High Priority Pests of Australia’s plant production industries 82 and pasture industries 48 Table 33. Australia’s regionalised pests 91 Keeping a look out for biosecurity risks to honey bees Table 34. Emergency responses to plant pests under EPPRD – The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program 51 arrangements 94 Chapter 2 Taking biosecurity to students – The Scientists and Table 35. Pest detections notified under EPPRD arrangements that Mathematicians in Schools program 89 did not result in a formal cost-shared emergency response 95 Containing Bitou bush along NSW beaches 96 Table 36. Australia’s Weeds of National Significance 99 Leaf-mining jewel beetle – A biological control of Cat’s Table 37. DAFF finalised and draft import policy advice 108 claw creeper 99 Table 38. Market access acheivements for plant production industries International cooperation – Australia and East Timor 109 since 2000 110 Table 39. Post entry quarantine facilities 115 Chapter 3 Training border inspectors to spot pests 113 Table 40. List of current IBPs 118 Farm Biosecurity Program – Helping farmers to boost biosecurity 119 Table 41. Australia’s plant biosecurity surveillance programs 122 Plant Biosecurity Farmer of the Year 121 Table 42. Diagnostic services 129 Timing is essential – How a national diagnostics database helps 135 Table 43. National Diagnostic Protocols 136 Honey bee biosecurity – An exemplary model of the biosecurity Table 44. Biosecurity Manuals 139 partnership in action 142 Table 45. Contingency plans 151 Chapter 4 When pests can’t be eradicated – Transition to management Table 46. Plant biosecurity related research projects 170 programs 148 FIGURES Chapter 5 A national research strategy to coordinate plant biosecurity Figure 1. National governmental consultative committees 17 science 159 Figure 2. DAFF regional boundaries 19 The end of two CRCs – Accomplishments and legacies 162 Figure 3. Comparative value of Australia’s plant production industries 26 Figures 4-69. Industry production data 28-75 Figure 70. Key components of Australia’s plant biosecurity continuum 103 Figure 71. DAFF import risk analysis flowchart 107 Figure 72. NAQS surveillance 116 Figure 73. NAQS Torres Strait 116 Figure 74. Surveillance programs by target host 121 Figure 75. Surveillance programs by target pest 121 Figure 76. NDP endorsement process 134 Figure 77-81. R,D&E project summaries 168 Image courtesy of AUSVEG Foreword Australia has gained an international reputation as a supplier of high quality clean produce; The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report is a vital reference source for anyone a reputation that grants access to lucrative domestic and international markets for our interested in Australia’s plant biosecurity system and how it functions to maintain producers of food, fibre and forestry products. Australia’s plant pest status, which is envied around the world. This reputation has been built on Australia’s relative freedom from many plant pests that Plant Health Australia is grateful for the cooperation it receives every year in putting it trouble producers overseas, and an associated reduction in the need to use chemicals together. The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report couldn’t be compiled without to control them. contributions, input and advice from Australia’s key plant biosecurity stakeholders. A great deal of effort is put into ensuring that our good reputation, and the flow-on I am proud to recommend this publication to you. benefits, are maintained. Australia’s plant biosecurity system is second to none, an accomplishment that results from Australia’s unique partnership model for biosecurity. Under this arrangement, the traditional role of governments in managing plant biosecurity is complemented by a close association with plant production industries. National plant biosecurity priorities are determined in consultation with a wide range of industry stakeholders, who participate in policy development,